Tom Sturridge is back as Dream in The Sandman Season 2 on Netflix, and I for one couldn't be happier. If you're me and never really did get around to reading the comics, don't worry—you can still step into this dark, weird, and magical world without getting lost. Season 2 is structured into three halves, and this first part already feels more compact and more personal than the first season, and we get to spend real time with Dream and his problems.
This season, Dream must make some difficult decisions that cost him everything from his kingdom to his love life. He's attempting to clean up the mess he created in the past, and that's a journey that's filled with gods, monsters, mortals, and family drama that's the world's most stressful therapy session.
And naturally, Tom Sturridge is still moody and whispery, but it pays off. His stoic-but-broken quality gives Dream power but vulnerability and pain, and we root for him as he tries to clean up his messes. I have not watched him in any other shows so he is not an actor playing Sandman, he IS Sandman to me. He is so perfectly cast and delivers an amazing performance.
A Story That Feels Like a Real Adventure
Season 1 jumped around everywhere, giving us little time with so many different characters that it was like a puzzle with too many pieces at times. Season 2 isn't like that. It is all about Dream, making the story so much easier to follow without losing any of the mystery with multiple kingdoms, multiple time periods, and multiple characters.
Dream is filled with remorse, especially for condemning Nada to Hell, and now he's out to clear her. It's a grand adventure, like Odysseus returning home, but darker and soap opera-ier. On his journey, Dream meets gods, monsters, and other Endless who annoy him and point out his transgression. These are painful encounters for him, and they further make him irresponsible, but he always keeps in mind something beyond himself, even if it means losing his own sanity.
It does a wonderful job of illustrating how regret and guilt can pursue you endlessly—particularly if you're as immortal as Dream is. We get to see how his decisions affect not only him, but also the people in his life, and it turns into a snowball effect of repercussions that he can't always escape.
My favorite thing was that each episode was meaningful. While the pacing is slow and measured, the show never lags. There's always tension, like something huge is going to happen, and that keeps you attached. And then there's the balancing between deep emotional material and fantasy quests and action sequences that makes it feel like you're reading a fantasy novel brought to life.
New Faces, Old Friends, and Emotional Depth
One of the highlights of the show is his interactions with his brothers and sister. They are occasionally snarky, occasionally perceptive, but always informative about Dream. It is lovely to watch him have epiphanies about himself when they are from brothers and sisters with whom he does not necessarily agree.
The highlight of the season is the cast of characters we get to see. We have our familiar characters: Desire, Death, Lucifer Morningstar, Lucienne, and Matthew. We also get to see some new characters from other mythologies such as Odin, Thor, Loki, Orpheus, Destiny, Puck, Destruction, and Delirium. They enrich the story, and it gets richer without ever getting confusing at any point.
Although none of them are giant big players on the show, they're there and they fill out the world so the world feels like a living, breathing world where a lot of stories are going on at the same time. Such as when you were reading a big fantasy book and you're finding out about characters you'd want to know more about, although they only appeared for a few chapters.
Your life is your own. Your death, likewise. Farewell. We shall not meet again.
The Good, The Bad, and Why You Should Watch
There is so much to love about this season. The world-building is beautiful, with stunning special effects that come alive in each of the kingdoms and realms. The show finds balance between the magical and the earthy in a way that doesn't feel like anything else on the television today. You're drawn into Dream's world, where each setting feels like there's something to be said.
Character acting is excellent, with the actors fully into their characters, bringing mortals, monsters, and gods to life in a credible and compelling manner. All characters, no matter how big or small their part is, are real and three-dimensional, and the show is rich for it.
But the season is not without its flaws. There are times when episodes are filled out with unnecessary scenes, such as the cringeworthy magic show with Cain and Abel. These are frustrating and feel like filler, which detracts from the rest of the story. Shorter episodes that stay on point would be preferable to padded-out episodes for the sake of time-filling.
The other one that I am not too fond of is the split-season concept. Season 2 is divided into three parts: six episodes in part one, five in part two, and the final one to wrap it up. It is unnecessary, and I wish we could get the entire season in one sitting so we could fully enjoy the story without waiting.
Final Thoughts
If you're a Sandman enthusiast, here's the positive news: Season 2, like season one, is as high-quality but proceeds to expand on the concentration of the narrative. If you haven't seen it, now is the time. The series blends fantasy, myth, and human feelings in a way that feels new and current, presenting you with a story that is as exciting as it is smart.
Tom Sturridge is still excellent as Dream, and we are introduced to a character who is powerful but seriously flawed and therefore easy to become attached to as he tries to make amends for past mistakes. The supporting characters add depth and variety and make each episode worth watching, and the world-building and graphics are so good that each scene is like a work of art.
I, for one, look forward to where the next episodes of Season 2 are headed. I hope that they keep going in the direction of Dream's development without going into filler that we do not need. The moment is ripe for epic story and emotional development and I am here for it.
If you want a fantasy series that's so much like reading an amazing book, you must see The Sandman.
